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By providing energy to the charge, the cell is capable of maintaining an electric potential difference across the two ends of the external circuit. The cells simply supply the energy to do work upon the charge to move it from the negative terminal to the positive terminal. With a clear understanding of electric potential difference, the role of an electrochemical cell or collection of cells (i.e., a battery) in a simple circuit can be correctly understood. The loss of this electric potential energy in the external circuit results in a gain in light energy, thermal energy and other forms of non-electrical energy. And similarly, every coulomb of charge loses 12 joules of electric potential energy as it passes through the external circuit. If a 12 volt battery is used in the circuit, then every coulomb of charge is gaining 12 joules of potential energy as it moves through the battery. As the positive test charge moves through the external circuit from the positive terminal to the negative terminal, it decreases its electric potential energy and thus is at low potential by the time it returns to the negative terminal. This work would increase the potential energy of the charge and thus increase its electric potential. In that discussion, it was explained that work must be done on a positive test charge to move it through the cells from the negative terminal to the positive terminal. In the previous part of Lesson 1, the concept of electric potential was applied to a simple battery-powered electric circuit. Because electric potential difference is expressed in units of volts, it is sometimes referred to as the voltage.Įlectric Potential Difference and Simple CircuitsĮlectric circuits, as we shall see, are all about the movement of charge between varying locations and the corresponding loss and gain of energy that accompanies this movement. And finally, if the electric potential difference between two locations is 12 volts, then one coulomb of charge will gain 12 joules of potential energy when moved between those two locations. If the electric potential difference between two locations is 3 volts, then one coulomb of charge will gain 3 joules of potential energy when moved between those two locations. If the electric potential difference between two locations is 1 volt, then one Coulomb of charge will gain 1 joule of potential energy when moved between those two locations. One Volt is equivalent to one Joule per Coulomb. The standard metric unit on electric potential difference is the volt, abbreviated V and named in honor of Alessandro Volta. In equation form, the electric potential difference is
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By definition, the electric potential difference is the difference in electric potential (V) between the final and the initial location when work is done upon a charge to change its potential energy.
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This difference in electric potential is represented by the symbol ΔV and is formally referred to as the electric potential difference. As a result of this change in potential energy, there is also a difference in electric potential between locations A and B. The work done on the charge changes its potential energy to a higher value and the amount of work that is done is equal to the change in the potential energy. In moving the charge against the electric field from location A to location B, work will have to be done on the charge by an external force. This part of Lesson 1 will be devoted to an understanding of electric potential difference and its application to the movement of charge in electric circuits.Ĭonsider the task of moving a positive test charge within a uniform electric field from location A to location B as shown in the diagram at the right. As we begin to apply our concepts of potential energy and electric potential to circuits, we will begin to refer to the difference in electric potential between two points. And similarly, if a Coulomb of charge (or any given amount of charge) possesses a relatively small quantity of potential energy at a given location, then that location is said to be a location of low electric potential. When a Coulomb of charge (or any given amount of charge) possesses a relatively large quantity of potential energy at a given location, then that location is said to be a location of high electric potential. Electric potential is a location-dependent quantity that expresses the amount of potential energy per unit of charge at a specified location. In the previous section of Lesson 1, the concept of electric potential was introduced.